Signup date: 12 Jul 2006 at 9:56am
Last login: 19 Apr 2010 at 1:40pm
Post count: 1766
PhDs can start at any time, but usually either at the start of Semester 1 (Oct) or Semester 2 (Feb)
I'm PT in social sciences - it is tough when you work as well, but you do what you have to do to get it done. There is so little funding around that a lot of people only study PT. All universities should offer a PT option.
Hmmm...I can JUST remember the days when my living room floor wasn't covered with random articles...
Look at the titles and trying to prioritise what you think will be the most useful. Although, I literally just picked up whatever was on top of the pile and read it (once I had a better idea of what I was going to write, I could be more selective and categorised stuff). I underlined the important bits and wrote down any points I thought were relevant, then wrote a brief summary of the main points at the end.
Quick tip: I make notes of the page numbers of arguments/quotes I think I might cite as I read (makes endnotes/footnotes a LOT easier when you come to write)
That is such a difficult question to answer - I came up with a first draft of the structure after about 4 months, but that has changed so much since and only vaguely resembles the argument I'm working on now (which still changes on a weekly basis!)
Start writing - drafts of outlines, random things that occur to you, analyses of articles that you've read, anything. It seems impossible to write when you have no direction, but it really is the best way to bring out your ideas. Don't be scared that you won't use it - just play around with the ideas you're reading about.
I think I wrote the exact same post on here two years ago when I was in the same position (also social science)! Keep reading - it seems like a random and difficult process, but the more you learn about the general area the more you notice where the gaps are and can start formulating your own ideas. Don't worry too much about the proposal - I haven't met anyone with a proposal that even vaguely resembled the finished thesis - but use it as a starting point for further research.
I felt exactly the same about 'going with the flow', but it does get easier I promise!
Jay2007 - I know exactly what you mean. Everytime I write a new paragraph it seems to change my structure. I know what I want to say in general, but keeping it moving is difficult because I always feel I'm going to back to change things or I am having to deal with arguments that don't seem to fit. Each argument can take you off onto other points that need to be addressed - keeping focused is so hard.
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